"Lacrosse is a fast game and you've got to be quick on your
feet," McCarthy said. "If it wasn't for lacrosse, maybe I wouldn't
have as good of feet as I do. Lacrosse has a lot to do with my
footwork in football because it's all running and I have to be able
to move laterally and backwards."

McCarthy's blocking last year helped the Cardinals set a school
record for most rushing yards (2,044). The premier Division III
football Web site, D3football.com named him
third-team All-American. This year Street & Smith's
honored him as a preseason first-team All-American.

"What's remarkable about Tim is that he's got tremendous
agility," CUA Coach Tom Clark said. "You look at him and you can't
believe that he's going to be able to get downfield and block
safeties, but he does. So he really is special that way."

When the Cards began the year 1-3, McCarthy and fellow captain
Tim Varian kept the team focused on its goal of returning to the
NCAA playoffs.

"They have been outstanding," Clark said. "They held this team
together. I really give them a lot of credit for our perseverance
and our comeback."

McCarthy is playing with a heavy heart this season after the
December death of his former CUA teammate, right guard Anthony
Bottoni. McCarthy, who has Bottoni's No. 76 tattooed on his
right leg, thinks about his best friend everyday.

"It doesn't get any easier," he said. "He was an unbelievable
guy and a good football player, too. It's a huge loss, but I know
he's still there watching us."